THE SAILOR’S PROLOGUE Our host upon his stirrups stood, anon, And said: “Good men, now hearken, every one; This was useful story, for the nonce! Sir parish priest,” quoth he, “for God His bones. Tell… 

THE SAILOR’S TALE A merchant, dwelling, once, at Saint Denis, Was rich, for which men held him wise, and he Had got a wife of excellent beauty, And very sociable and gay was she, Which… 

THE PRIORESS’S PROLOGUE The Merry Words of the Host to the Sailor and to My Lady Prioress Well said, by corpus dominus,” said our host, “Now long time may you sail along the coast, Sir… 

THE MONK’S TALE De Casibus Virorum Illustrium I will bewail in manner of tragedy The ills of those that stood in high degree And fell so far there was no remedy To bring them out… 

THE PARDONER’S TALE In Flanders, once, there was a company Of young companions given to folly, Riot and gambling, brothels and taverns; And, to the music of harps, lutes, gitterns, They danced and played at… 

THE REEVE’S PROLOGUE When folk had laughed their fill at this nice pass Of Absalom and clever Nicholas, Then divers folk diversely had their say; And most of them were well amused and gay, Nor… 

THE TALE OF MELIBEE A young man named Melibee, mighty and rich, begot on Prudence, his wife, a daughter who was called Sophie. It happened one day that, for his amusement he went into the… 

THE MONK’S PROLOGUE The Merry Words of the Host to the Monk When ended was my tale of Melibee And of Prudence and her benignity, Our host remarked: “As I am faithful man, And by… 

EPILOGUE TO THE NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE “Sir nun’s priest,” said our host, and that anon, “Now blessed be your breech and every stone! This was a merry tale of Chanticleer. But, truth, if you were… 

THE PHYSICIAN’S TALE There was, as tells us Titus Livius, A knight whose name was called Virginius, Fulfilled of honour and of worthiness, Who many friends and much wealth did possess. This knight had had…